Device and method for pleating material



United States Patent O DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PLEATING MATERIAL Philomeua M. Tubbs, Chicago, lll. Application July Z4, 1952, Serial No. 300,578

Claims. (Cl. 223-35) This invention relates to the pleating of material and more particularly to a device and method for forming pleats in draperies, curtains and the like.

It is known that means are available for forming pleats in draperies, curtains, etc., but known means require the use of backing materials and other permanent attachments that must be secured to the draperies. Moreover, such arrangements are designed to form pleats or folds in the upper or top portion of the draperies, and there is no good method or device available for forming pleats in the lower portion of draperies where it is necessary that the draperies look the best.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide a device and method for forming pleats in draperies and curtains, etc. Another object is to provide a device and a method for simply and easily forming pleats in draperies, etc., While they are hanging and without a need for tacking or sewing the material and without the use of backing arrangements or other permanent attachments. Still another object is to provide a device that may be secured near or adjacent the lower edge of a drapery to secure folds therein while at the same time weighting the drapery to provide an even fold or pleat throughout the length thereof and that may be subsequently removed after the pleats or folds have set. A further object is to provide a coil spring having spaced turns and equipped at each end with a hook, the length of the coil being so related to the diameter that by compressing the coil along one side to interjoin the hooks the opposite side of the turns spread along radially diverging lines to provide relatively wide openings to facilitate the insertion of the folded material between adjacent turns of the coil. Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

Specific embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an embodiment of my drapery pleating device; Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the device shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the hooked ends interconnected to spread the opposite side of the coil; Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the hooked ends interconnected and with the folds of a drapery inserted between the spread turns of the coil; Fig. 5 is a top plan view in which the device is in relaxed condition with the folds of a drapery gripped between adjacent turns of the coil; and Fig. 6 is an end view in elevation of another embodiment of the device.

In the illustration, my device for forming pleats in curtains or draperies, etc., consists of a coil spring 10 having spaced apart turns or loops 11. The coil 10 is equipped at one end with a laterally-turned portion 12 forming a hook and at the opposite end with a similarly laterally-turned end portion 13 providing a hook and handle extension 14.

A ribbon of material 16 looped or turned to form the coil 10 may be of any suitable material. For example, a relatively thin ribbon of plastic may be looped to form the coil as illustrated having spaced turns 11. The plastie may be set in this condition so that a spring coil re- ICC '2 sults. Spring wire may be looped to form the coil 10 having the spaced turns 11. The material used is not critical so long as the formed coil may be expanded along one side as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and will spring back to the condition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 when the hooked ends are released.

lt is preferred that the coil 10 have a uniform diameter throughout the entire length thereof. The length of the coil 10 should be so related with the diameter thereof that when the coil is compressed along one side to join the,

hooked ends 12 and 13, the opposite sides of the coil will spread so that the turns thereof diverge along radial lines. When the term compressing the coil along one side is used it is meant that the coil is compressed along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil and lying on the surface of the coil.

lf desired, the coil 10 may be colored variously to provide an attractive appearance. if the turns of the coil are provided by a plastic material, the material may first be colored as desired in any known manner. If the coil is metal it may be painted to provide an attractive appearance or the metal may be heat treated or otherwise treated to produce attractive colors. Further, the coil could be embellished or otherwise equipped with figures or designs to improve the appearance thereof.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a drapery 17 having a plurality of folds 18 therein at desired points is shown with the folds 18 inserted between adjacent turns 11 of the coil 10. Fig. 4 illustrates the desired position of the coil 10 for insertion of the folds 18. Fig. 5 illustrates the coil 10 in relaxed condition wherein the adjacent turns 11 grip the folds 13 to secure the drapery in folded condition.

In Figs. l and 2, the hooks 12 and 13 are circumferentially spaced apart so that a slight torsional force must be imparted to the coil 10 as well as compressing the ends thereof, in order to join the hooks 12 and 13. In the form illustrated in Fig. 6, the hooks 12a and 13a of the coil 10a are longitudinally aligned and to join the hooked portions it is only necessary to compress the coil along one side thereof. The handle 14 or 14a provides a ready means for quickly and easily joining the hooks 12 and 13 or 12a and 13a. The handle is also very useful for releasing the hooks after the drapery folds 18 have been inserted between the turns of the coil.

By using my device the method of forming pleats or folds in draperies, etc., is extremely simple. After the draperies are hung in proper position a drapery may be folded upon itself at desired points to provide the most attractive appearance. The coil 10 is then compressed along one side or along a line lying on the surface of the coil and in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof to cause the adjacent turns 11 to spread apart along radially diverging lines. The coil 10 may be secured in this position by interconnecting the hooks 12 and 13, and for this purpose handle 14 may be grasped between the fingers to draw the hook 13 under the hook 12 to secure the two. The folds 18 in the drapery 17 are then inserted between the spread turns 11 of the coil and may be moved inwardly between the turns until the converging inner portions of the turns oifer substantial resistance to the movement of the folded material. The hooks 12 and 13 are then released and the coil 10 assumes the relaxed condition illustrated in Fig. 5. In this position the turns 11 tightly grip the folds 18 and insure retention of the folds at the desired points on the drapery.

It is preferred that the coil 10 be secured to the drapery 17 along the lower or bottom edge thereof, so that the weight of the coil 10 provides a slight pull on the drapery throughout the entire length thereof and thereby aids in creating an even and attractive fold or pleat throughout the entire length of the drapery. Al-

though the `turns -11 -of the coil grip kthe folded portions 18 of the drapery rather tightly after the coil has been returned to relaxed condition, the coil may be moved along jthe "folds V18 of the -drapery--to the desired :position or to the position 4where it is ydesired to 4produce the most attractive 4and lwell formed pleats.

' After the coil or pleat Iforming device 10 has been positioned upon Vthe drapery 17 =to Secure the Afolds l18 therein for a substantial period -of time, `usually kover night, `the 'humidity inthe air is ordinarily suflicient to se'tthe folds -18in the drapery and the coil may then 'be removed `by slipping it vfree of the pleats. The pleats are found to be accurately set to produce a very attractive vpleated drapery. The pleat forming device or lcoil is thcnavalable for pleating other material ina'similarmanner.

^ I have found particularly when the draperies are of thin material, orin 'forming pleats or folds in curtains, that the material may be folded and inserted vbetween the turns 11 of the coil spring '10 without first vcompressing the 'coil along one side thereof. However, I vprefer to compress the coil and interconnect the hooks 12 and 13, since insertion of the material between the turns is thereby facilitated.

Where the hooks 12 and 13 are -peripherally spaced, as in Figs. 1 and 2, it is found that upon interconnecting the hooks therturns 11 of the coil Vspread apart more widely than when .the hooks 12 and V1% are axially alignedV as illustrated in Fig 6. The material then may be more easily 'inserted between adjacent turns of the coil. .It is necessary that the length and diameter of the coil be related to each other so thatthe'turns of the coil spread when the hooked portions are interconnected. The diameter-may be varied vas required or desired, so long as the length of the `coil corresponds thereto. I have found .that a coil having a diameter of between 11/2 inches and 21/2 inches and having lengths up 'to 6 inches has proved very eective. It is understood, of course, that these dimensions are given'by way of example and they may be altered as desired.

While in the foregoing specification I have set forth specific embodiments of my method and device, it is understood that Vthe considerable details set forth for purposes of illustration may be varied rgreatly by those skilledin 'the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

`I claim:

l. In a method of .pleating material, the steps of providing an elongated coil spring having ,a plurality of turns Ythat are readily spread apart, providing a body o'f material to have pleats formed therein, folding ,said materialin pleat fashion Vat selected points spaced axially along Vsaid spring, inserting each of the folds between adjacent turns of said spring whereby the folds are resiliently gripped and held in place, and after the folds have set to form pleats, removing said spring.

A2. YIn a method of pleating material, the steps of providing an elongated coil spring having aplurality of turns -thatrarereadily spreadaparnproviding a-body ofmaterial to have pleats formed therein, folding said material to form a pleat first at one point, spreading selected adjacent turns of said spring and inserting the pleat therebetween and thereafter folding said material to form pleats and inserting the same between spread adjacent turns of the spring at other points therealong, allowing the pleats to be resiliently held between `adjacent turns of the 'spring until the pleats have substantially set, and then releasing the pleats from the spring.

3. In a method of'setting pleats infreelyhanging material, the steps -of providing a coil spring having a plurality of turns that are readily spread apart in fan-like fashion, compressing said spring along-one side thereof to fan the same and spread apart the turns dong the other side thereof, folding the hanging material to form pleats therein, inserting each of the pleats so folded between the spread vadjacent turns of said spring, -releasing the compressed side of the spring whereby said pleats are resiliently gripped by a self-adjusting force and -said spring -is supported solely by said material, allowing said pleats to set, and thereafter removing said spring from lsaid pleats.

4. A device for pleating materials, vcomprising an elongated coil spring having relatively `small Vtensile strength so that adjacent 'turns thereof are readily spread apart, and interlocking hook members carried by said'coil spring adjacent the ends thereof, the length of Asaid coil spring being determined to establish a relationship such that when said hook members are interconnected, ladjacent turns of the spring fan outwardly and into Vspread relation 'along one side thereof, said coil spring having sufficient stilness to maintain itself without support in ksuch fanned condition.

5. A device for pleating materials, comprising an elongated coil spring of relatively large diameter and having relatively small tensile strength so that adjacent turns thereof are readily spread apart, said. spring being equipped at the ends thereof with integral, interlocking hook members, the hook members at opposite ends of said spring being aligned along a longitudinal line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis vof said spring whereby when said hooks are interconnected, 'said spring is cornpressed along one sidethereof Without'twisting force being applied thereto, the length of said coil spring being determined Vso that adjacent turns of the spring fan outwardly and into spread relation along one side thereof Vwhen said h'ook membersV are interconnected, said spring having sulficient stiffness to maintain itself, when unsupported, in such fanned condition.

References Cited in the file of `this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 111,475 Robic Ian. .31, 187.1 483,572 Moore Oct. 4, .1892 631,401 Kuhnel Aug. 22, 1899 780,443 VPhillips lan. 17, 19,05 

